Oscar nominated shorts: Live Action

I have seen all the films in this category, so I'll offer short reviews of each followed by my prediction in the category.

The Confession

A perfect example of a film with a promising beginning, and then runs off the rails. The child at the center of the film is uncomfortable with confession because he thinks he has nothing to confess. This leads to, uh, people dying. Is the point that confession causes children to sin? Because that's what it felt like, even though I don't think it was point. I sure hope not. Grade: D+
The Crush

A young boy, with a crush on his teacher, becomes insanely jealous when he finds out the teacher has just become engaged. He sets out to battle the new fiance for the teacher's hand. Without revealing what happens, let me say I thought the film had painted itself in a corner, but the resolution was genuinely amusing. Grade: A=

God of Love

A crooner who throws darts (bullseyes) while he sings desires his drummer, while she in turn desires the guitar player, while the guitar player decline her hints because of his friendship with the crooner. Then the crooner is delivered some magical darts which cause the target to fall in love for six hours. That's just the set-up, but the cliche "hilarity ensues" actually correctly applies here. Grade: A

Na Wewe

The film's heart is in the right place, really it is, but its message about Rwanda, and the futility of killing those based only by their tribe, is a bit heavy handed, not to mention about 15 years late. Grade: C+

Wish 143

In which a teenage boy dying of cancer gives his dying wish: to have sex. Behind that premise is the ultimate discovery that there is a girl he wants but has lost. The film's strength is in the way it recognizes the pain of a child cancer ward but the dark humor of the character. I especially liked the portrayal of the priest on the ward, the only person who seems to understand the teen's loneliness. Grade A+

Oscar race: Sometimes in a race a film stands out partially because it is different. God of Love is that film. It is genuinely witty and inventive, and I believe will grab the voters' attention. Though I would vote for Wsh 143.